BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost) – About 120 Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and police officers, on Wednesday are pounced on Rumphi East lawmaker Kamlepo Kalua, on tax invasion charges.
The development is seen as a desperate move by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration to divert the public attention from social-economic ills the country has plunged into.
In his dismay, the fearless Member of Parliament Kamlepo Kalua, said the police and MRA officers invaded his house and that of his children, demanding duty tax documents on two of his vehicles.
Kamlepo wondered why there was the large number of officers and how they could sink low parading just to intimidate him because of his criticism on the DPP leadership and its failure.
The legislator challenged President Peter Mutharika’s government that he would not be forced to surrender, and be silenced despite the intimidation.
He said it is illegal to attempt to arrest him when he is on parliamentary business serving on the education committee on higher learning institutions.
“I am told they had instructions to pick me up, kill me. Imagine, they were trying to break my house doors, as if vehicles are kept in a house. This is happening when l am on parliamentary business, that provides immunity on any such attack.
“I am completely surprised with MRA action; the two vehicles they are referring to, were bought duty free as a privilege for being a member of parliament. This is uncalled for. The move is to silence me, but I will not accept that until the welfare of Malawians are met,” Kalua challenged.
MRA spokesperson Steve Kapoloma, asked for more time before commenting, as he needed to consult the officers who effected the Kalua house raid.
The DPP government is said to be using the MRA to pounce on its critics; these include the Times Group, and Boniface, which is seen as politically motivated operation.
This also comes barely a few days after the police in Blantyre, arrested Stella Assani, the person suspected of being the author of the letter that was circulated in social media, which purported to be the resignation letter from Malawi Vice President, Dr. Saulos Chilima.